Now that we’re officially halfway through the summer holidays, it’s beginning to get a little hard to think of new things with which to entertain my children all day long. Endless days playing in the garden or at the park can wear a little thin after a while. Taking our family for a fun day out is a great way to add a little excitement into the holidays! My kids count down the days and it gives us all something to look forward to.

If you’re looking for some ideas for summer days out in the UK, here is a round-up of some of the best places to go for families that’ll keep them from bouncing off the walls at your house (let them bounce off of someone else’s walls!) for a while.

Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire

Folly Farm is a great place for a family day out, whether it’s sunny or raining. Not only do they have a wonderful range of farm animals, there is also a zoo on site—home to animals including lions, zebras, giraffes, and penguins. There is also a vintage funfair and lots of outdoor playgrounds. It’s sure to keep all ages entertained all day long.

Knights’ Quest, Alnwick Castle

If you have any Harry Potter fans in your house, then Alnwick Castle is the perfect day out for you, as it was used as a setting in the film. As well as having a whole castle to explore, your children can take part in the Knights’ Quest. They get to experience what it was like to be a real Knight or Lady. They can dress up in clothes of medieval times, learn the art of swordsmanship, and even have a go at jousting.

Legoland, Windsor

A fun filled day out for all the family, Legoland is a great day out if your children are as Lego-crazy as mine! There are over fifty-five action packed rides and attractions, including LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display and LEGO® Friends Heartlake City to keep your little ones entertained.

Dinosaur Farm Museum, Isle of Wight

The Dinosaur Farm Museum on the Isle of Wight is one of the best places in Europe for discovering fossils. You can take part in guided fossil hunts on a local beach, spot real dinosaur footprints, and even discover your very own dinosaur fossils.

London Fields Lido

If you are looking for a great place to cool down on a hot day in the city, then head to London Fields Lido in Hackney. It is London’s only Olympic-sized heated outdoor swimming pool and recently won a Golden Goggles award for best place to swim outdoors in London. With a sixty-six foot pool, it is the perfect spot for a family swim.

Chester Zoo, Chester

Chester Zoo is UK’s number one zoo, with over 400 different species of animal. Whether the elephants, lions, or orangutans are your favourite, there is so much to see and do you’ll struggle to get around it all in one day.

Landmark Forest Theme Park, Inverness-shire

Landmark is a fun, adventure-packed day for all ages. You can ride the runaway timber train roller coaster, rock climb, “skydive,” flume ride on a water coaster, try two high-level ropes courses, tackle a treetop trail, discover the secrets of a 10,000 year old pine forest, and much more.

At-Bristol, Bristol

With hundreds of hands-on exhibits to explore, live shows, and a planetarium, At-Bristolis one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting interactive science centres. Their stated aim is “to make science accessible to all.” With over fifty hands-on exhibits that your children can explore, it’s a great way to sneak in a little bit of education to the holidays!

Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary

Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary is a state-of-the-art marine aquarium taking visitors on a memorable undersea odyssey filled with amazing close encounters with sea creatures of astonishing variety. You can get up close and personal with seals and otters, take a peek at what goes on in a real fish hospital, and even hold crabs and starfish!

Polly Davies is a writer and blogger. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their four home-schooled children. Polly blogs daily at Enchanted Pixie about her life, family, and their adventures. When she's not blogging, she can usually be found sitting in the garden, drinking coffee, eating cake, playing with her children, and taking hundreds of photographs. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.